“Ready when you are.”

Brandford said, sitting solidly within his fighting stance. Some of the guards in the area looked on at the fight with surprise.

“Brandford’s sparring with someone…?” One of them muttered.

“Looks like one of those students…” Another commented.

“You’ll regret this, faunus scum.” Was all Geralt said, before rushing forward. He expertly spun his spear, attempting to make his incoming attack more unpredictable. The attack came as a stab aimed at the faunus’ shoulder. It was blocked with ease, in a flash of sparks.

“Do you want to know why I agreed to fight you?” Brandford asked in the midst of his block, sword raised and eyes locked on Geralt. “Actually, don’t bother answering, I don’t care about what you think the answer is. I want you and the others watching to know that I hate huntsmen.”

Merlot and Ash exchanged glances from the sidelines. The two shrugged before focusing back on the fight.

“And I especially hate you students.” Brandford continued, maintaining the block. “You act all high and mighty just because you’re attending an important school and getting easy cushy missions from the headmaster. None of you know what it’s like to struggle on the front lines, defending a single town your whole life.”

Geralt’s smug look turned to annoyance. He pulled his trident back in time to block a series of repeated sword slashes, each one stronger than the last. Sparks flew and the boy was nearly knocked off his feet from the attacks.

“Learning to fight isn’t a choice out here. It’s a requirement. And by fight, I don’t just mean against the Grimm.” Brandford continued as he pummelled Geralt with attacks. One of the slashes slipped his guard, landing on his shoulder and dealing damage to his aura. “So when I see you idiots underestimating me just because I never got any formal training… I get a little fed up.”

“He’s good…” Shin muttered to himself, watching the battle intently.

“Well I was gonna cheer for him but then he started insulting us…” Ash said with annoyance.

“Yeah but compared to the alternative...?” Merlot said.

“I think neutrality is best here.” Ash said with a nod, crossing his arms.

“I don't.” His leader said, before refocusing on the match. “KICK HIS ASS, BRANDFORD!”

Geralt and Brandford continued to exchange attacks. The Mistralian noble was faring a little better now, able to properly keep up with his opponent’s strikes. After blocking a particular sword slash, he spun his trident and hit a button on it. The hard light blades retracted and were replaced with molten orange points. Thanks to this transformation, each swipe or stab left a fiery trail in its wake, forcing Brandford to put more effort into avoiding Geralt’s attacks.

“Fancy weapon you’ve got there… I suppose your parents ordered it from Atlas. It was probably very expensive.” Brandford commented as a fiery swing narrowly missed his head.

“Damn right.” Geralt replied through clenched teeth. “Each spec of dust was mined out by some poor faunus miner, being paid a dirt cheap wage to make an expensive weapon for someone overseas. It’s just the natural order of things.”

Brandford didn’t reply right away, instead simply focusing on Geralt’s movements and swings. When the timing was right, he ducked below an overhead swipe and slashed the boy across the chest. Geralt staggered slightly.

“It’s a shame their work was wasted on you.” Brandford said, brandishing his simple sword. Geralt let out a shout of rage, and swung low at the man. Brandford leapt over the swing and slammed the butt of his sword into Geralt’s cheek.

Geralt let out a gasp as his aura was lowered further. He stumbled slightly from the swing, but recovered shortly. He simply stared at Brandford with contempt, letting out heaving breaths.

“How’s that for weak, brat?” The captain asked, looming over Geralt. “You’ve had enough now. Let’s end this and get on with-”

Before Brandford could even finish his words, the Mistralian noble took a step forward. In his left hand he clutched his trident, whilst his empty right flew towards his belt. Somewhat hidden beneath his long blue cloak was a shortsword strapped to his waist, ornately decorated and polished. Geralt drew the blade from its sheath. Brandford raised an eyebrow.

“Get down on your knees and beg for mercy, you filthy faunus.” Geralt hissed as the blade began to glow with energy, the same colour as his aura. He brandished the blade in front of him, but soon found that something stood in his way.

“That’s enough, Geralt!” In a flash, Shin had rushed onto the battlefield, stepping between the two fighters. His hand closed around Geralt’s wrist. “This whole battle is pointless. Do not resort to your semblance over something like this.”

The noble glared at his leader, but regardless dropped his sword. Its glow faded and it was promptly returned to its sheath. Brandford let out a short sigh, before turning to look at the various spectators in the area.

“All of you have something else you could be doing right now, so get to it!” He barked, before turning to the students. “That includes you. Start your patrol rounds, I believe I’ve gotten the point across.”

“Yes sir!” Ash said, whilst saluting.

“You’ve got it boss!” Merlot said, appearing a little shaken. As she prepared to leave, she took one more glance at Brandford. His back was now turned and he seemed to be talking to one of the guards, another faunus with the same grey dog ears as him, but much much younger. Merlot briefly made eye contact with the girl, before quickly looking away.

“Come, Geralt. Let’s do our job.” Shin said, stepping away from his teammate. Geralt shot Brandford a stare as he sheathed his trident, but proceeded with Shin without issue. Brandford looked up from his conversation at the students, sheathing his sword and grimacing, before speaking to the girl next to him.

"I knew this whole mission thing was a bad idea, Kalina."

*

“Robert!” Scarlett exclaimed.

“Don’t get distracted!” Robert shouted back, as he slowly picked himself up off the ground. “I’m fine!”

“I’ve never seen a Grimm look like this before, much less a beowolf...” Thalia said as she loaded an arrow into her weapon.

“Yeah, it’s all weird and green!” Bruno added, preparing himself for battle.

“No matter. We must defeat it all the same.” The faunus girl said, before letting her arrow fly. It pierced the air, embedding itself into the arm of the beowulf. It let out a shriek, before charging her.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

The Grimm swiped at Thalia, moving faster than she could predict. It sent her off her feet with a single attack, and knocked her bow from her hands.

Immediately, Bruno and Scarlett leapt into action. Both of them attacked simultaneously, Bruno going in for a slice on the beast’s leg and Scarlett swinging her bladed chain at its arm. The Grimm easily dodged both attacks, moving out of the way. It proceeded to grab Scarlett’s chain with its clawed hand, prompting a gasp of surprise from the girl. With a sudden tug of said chain, Scarlett was pulled towards the Grimm’s waiting maw. It clamped itself around her neck, the only thing preventing certain death being the girl’s aura.

“Scarlett…!” Thalia gasped and leapt to her feet. Abandoning her bow in the rush of the situation, she reached underneath her cloak and drew a pair of silver daggers. She slashed at the Grimm’s stomach, whilst Bruno attempted another attack from behind. The Grimm was simply too fast. It moved out of the way once more, however this shift gave Scarlett the opening she needed. Grasping her weapon she plunged it into the creature’s shoulder while it dodged, opening up a deep wound and forcing it to drop her.

Scarlett hit the snow covered ground and immediately took a massive breath in as her throat was no longer constricted.

At this point, Robert had returned to his feet just in time to block an incoming claw attack with his shield. He managed to hold his ground, blocking each swipe in a flash of sparks.

“Why does it keep attacking him of all people?!” Bruno wondered aloud, rushing to get back into the fight.

“Maybe it's... Intelligent.” Thalia said, following behind him. “It could be attacking Robert because he’s the only one of us wearing armour! The Grimm knows that he’ll be the toughest to kill so he’s focusing on him!”

“Robert being hard to kill?! Are you really sure the Grimm’s intelligent…?” Bruno said, swiping at the Grimm while it berated his teammate. He was soon met with a dodge, followed by a swipe to the chest.

Thalia followed soon after, missing her opponent by a hair. Robert also attacked and just like his ally, also failed. Following his missed attack, the beowolf tackled him to the ground. He managed to raise his shield in time to prevent its jaws from finding his neck or face.

Scarlett gritted her teeth, grabbing both ends of her weapon and clicking them together. After this and the flip of a button, they morphed together to form a red submachine gun, clutched in her hand. She slammed the trigger, letting loose a hailstorm of bullets. The Grimm was forced to leap off of Robert, doing its best to dodge the volley. A couple of bullets managed to find their target thanks to the spread, embedding themselves within the Grimm’s flesh.

“Thalia! Mark it!” Scarlett exclaimed. Thalia didn’t need to be told twice. Raising her arm with the back of her hand pointed at the Grimm, it began to glow, as a strange symbol manifested upon it. This same symbol appeared on the black and green fur of the beowolf.

“What did you do to it?” Bruno asked.

“It’s been branded with the hunter’s mark, my semblance.” Thalia replied, readying her swords. “My attacks will be more accurate and deadly towards the Grimm, so long as my mark remains.”

As if on queue, Scarlett ceased her gunfire and the Grimm charged. It rushed Robert as he attempted to get up, but was instead intercepted by Thalia. She raised one of her silver daggers, slicing off the Grimm’s left arm before it could dodge.

The beowolf let out an inhuman shriek of pain. Ichor dripped from its stump, along with a strange green liquid. Both splattered against the ground, prompting a short “ew…” from Scarlett.

Robert used this moment to slash at the Grimm. It took notice and dodged, just barely leaping out of the way of the sword. However, the blast of ice dust from the blade that followed was not so easily avoided. The Grimm’s leg was frozen to the ground. It let out a shriek as the others all leapt towards it.

Bruno planted his claws directly through its chest, causing it to leak more ichor and green goo. It swiped at Thalia, but found its remaining arm removed by Scarlett. This gave Thalia the opening she needed to rush the Grimm head on, crossing her blades in front of her. With one quick slash from either weapon, she removed the creature’s head. Its body fell to the ground in a puddle of black and green.

“I’ve… Never fought a beowolf that strong. It was an alpha but… Usually two second years would be enough to take care of it.” Thalia said with a sigh, sheathing her blades.

“Maybe you just aren’t as good as-” Bruno began with a devious smirk, only to be instantly interrupted by Robert.

“That Grimm was too much for all of us Bruno. If it wasn’t for Thalia and her semblance, we’d probably be dead.”

“I guess. Also, what’s with the Grimm being all green and stuff?” Bruno asked.

“I’ve been wondering that myself.” Thalia replied, reaching to her belt and extracting her scroll. She snapped a quick picture of the Grimm’s disintegrating corpse while it was still somewhat intact. “Don’t let your guards down. There could still be more on the way.”

“That was close.” Leon muttered, watching the students in the field from atop one of the wall’s patrol paths. He too removed his scroll, zoomed in on the creature from afar and took a picture. “Strange looking Grimm. I’m sure Lionheart wouldn’t mind knowing about this.”

*

“That was the coolest day of anything I’ve ever done!” Bruno exclaimed as he entered the tavern under the cover of darkness, the building’s warm lights shining brighter than ever.

“I would have to disagree.” Thalia said as she, Robert and Scarlett filed in behind him. “Nothing about nearly losing our lives to a strange Grimm is very cool.”

“I wasn’t asking you!” Bruno snapped. “I thought it was awesome and besides, we won right? Even if we get attacked by another one, we know we can just beat it easily!”

“That isn’t my point. We need to be thinking about-”

“Acting uptight as usual Thalia?” She was interrupted by a familiar snarky voice from one of the tavern’s tables. Geralt sat at said table with Shin, Merlot and Ash. “For once I agree with that bug tailed freak. You should keep your mouth shut more often.”

Thalia let out a short sigh, averting her eyes from Geralt and making her way to one of the nearby tables. Merlot watched this angrily, but didn’t do anything to intervene. Rather, she instead turned to Bruno and Robert.

“Hey Merlot, guess what we got to do today?!” He exclaimed with a massive grin. Without allowing her to answer, he continued. “We fought tons of Grimm! And won! And looked awesome doing it!”

“Good for you. Today, Geralt got into a dick measuring competition with one of the guards, then got his ass handed to him.” Merlot explained casually. “Aside from that, all we did was boring patrols…”

“Hey now.” A hand fell on Merlot’s shoulder. She turned to find Geralt with a smug smile on his face. “Sorry, I think I missed what you just said about me, first year. Can you repeat yourself?”

“Screw off.” Was all she said, brushing his hand off her shoulder. Geralt’s smile slowly faded, however before he could do anything he caught Shin out of the corner of his eye. The leader was staring at him with a murderous expression. Rolling his eyes, Geralt returned to his seat.

“Let’s go talk upstairs.” Merlot said shortly, standing up.

“I think I’ll just head to bed.” Robert said, joining her. Bruno and Ash followed as well, with the faunus sticking his tongue out at Geralt as he passed.

As soon as team MABL had made their way up the staircase to the second floor, the door to the tavern flew open, startling Lilac at the bar. The grinning face of Leon entered.

“Great work today everybody! I- Wait, why are only half of you here?” He scanned the room with confusion.

“Team MABL decided to turn in for the night.” Shin explained.

“Oh. Shame, but they did work hard today! I was just coming to say that you all did a really great job! That’s about it. I’ll tell them in the morning.” Leon said with a shrug, heading for the door to the tavern. “Uh… Night guys.”

“Mr. Leon. Just a moment please.” Thalia stood up from her table and made her way towards the man.

“Leave the poor guy alone Thalia. I’m sure the last thing he wants is to listen to you.” Geralt said with a chuckle.

Thalia ignored him, raising her scroll for the Huntsman to see and accessing her images. “Earlier today, my group encountered something strange whilst fighting Grimm.”

She flipped to an image of the decaying body of the green beowolf. “This is only the corpse but… This Grimm doesn’t look like any other beowolf I’ve seen before. It was also much stronger. I don’t know why this could be but it’s certainly concerning…”

“I know.” Leon said seriously. “I was watching your fight against it. I’m aware of how peculiar the Grimm was. I took a picture myself and I’m on my way to tell Professor Lionheart about it now. Thanks for letting me know though, and stay safe tomorrow.”

“Of course.” Thalia nodded with a sigh of relief and returned to her seat. Despite this knowledge, she was still visibly on edge, staring at the table before her in deep contemplation.

*

Brandford climbed the stairway up to the wall’s patrol path, a dust powered lantern in his hand. He gazed out upon the dark, snow covered land below… Before something caught his eye. A pair of glowing lanterns amidst the dark of the night, headed towards the town with haste. Raising an eyebrow, he immediately leapt down the staircase and made his way towards the town’s gates.

By the time he had reached said gates, the two arrivals were able to be made out clearly, now in the light cast by the town and wall. It was a pair of Shian Shi soldiers, dressed in a variation of the usual padded armour that seemed much lighter and more flexible, both clutching reins attached to a pair of horses. Upon seeing Brandford, the two stood at attention from behind the gate.

“Sir!” Both said at the same time, saluting.

“Scouts. Welcome back.” He nodded to them, before turning to some of the surrounding soldiers. “Open the gate!”

Within seconds, the large metallic gate rose up with ease, allowing the two scouts entry into the town.

“Sir! We hate to speak out of turn like this but-” One of them began, a woman with long blonde hair.

“It’s urgent!” The other said, a man with short red hair and a dog’s tail. “Very urgent!”

“Grimm! Hundreds, maybe thousands of them!” The girl said. “We ran into a massive group, about ten kilometres from these walls… Probably closer by now actually!”

“I see.” Brandford muttered, attempting to contain his worry. He immediately turned from the scouts. “Inform the other troops. Fortify our defences… I want every able bodied soldier up and ready to go. We need to prepare for a siege.”